[speekinout]

We Americans pride ourselves for being better, more efficient, more innovative than any other nation on earth. But clearly in this case, there needs to be some seriously improvement in education, there must be more math/science in the curriculum and less liberal arts.

Amen. I was in the high tech industry for years. In the beginning, most co-workers had engineering credentials. Then, starting in the late 80's, I started seeing more workers with BA's in programming degrees- useless. Their knowledge was English, French and Fortran (or Cobol).
A few years later, the industry was awash in MBA degrees - how to tell the engineers what to do.

The H1B workers were really engineers. Not many Americans, except for the Asian-Americans, go for engineering degrees. If we can't educate more engineers, then we do need the H1B workers.

[Mulder]

If we can't educate more engineers, then we do need the H1B workers.

Drop the H1B programs, and engineering salaries will rise, thus attracting more Americans to study the field.

As long as thousands of foreigners are allowed to come in and do the work, there is little incentive for Americans to invest the time and energy required for an engineering degree. If an engineer is only going to make 10% more than a business major, why study hard when you can party your tail off in college and get an easier major?

[luckystarmom]

Well, those of us with real engineering degrees are losing our jobs.

I'm lucky. I've been out of the workforce for 7 years while I take care of my children.

Unfortunately, lots of my old co-workers are losing their jobs. These are highly skilled engineers with 15-20 years of work experience.

The H1B workers need to go first because they are not Americans. Our country needs to take care of our own first. Otherwise, other countries will take over economically and politically.